The guys thought they were a lock to move forward in the playoffs but baseball is never predictable.

Today was the playoffs for Fall Ball. It's a single elim. format so we are done. They played hard and they played well and it was sooo cold that we needed heaters in the dugout but in the end they came up short.

C did manage to pick off a runner at second and get an RBI.

We're not done baseball though. Don't be silly. I think we get Xmas eve off though.

I know that good parents support their kids. But as we sat out there today numb at the extremities, there may have been a collective sigh of relief that we aren't playing tomorrow. Just maybe.

Fall Ball
Originally uploaded by Ya Gotta Believe.

I love the sun coming through the leaves in these shots. It was such a crisp day. Perfect for a day at the fields.

Game 7 here we come!

I just woke up. I had been watching the Div. Series game, tie score, bases loaded Nomar up. I was worried but somehow I dozed off only to wake back up during a commercial, look at my clock and panic.

Had they won? Had they lost? Did I miss it? I threw back the covers in an "oh no! I missed the bus!" kind of way and flipped on the TiVo--still recording.

Whew. Eighth inning. Mets are winning. My heart is still pounding but now I am just sitting on the edge of the couch, pups on either side, watching, waiting.

Sure, this game is closer than C's game this morning. Poor C's team lost 23-3 this morning to the best team in the league above theirs--an undefeated team. But they held their heads high and kept on playing. In the bottom of the last inning our team batted around. They knew it wasn't going to win them the game. They knew they had lost. But they just kept playing--just kept having fun. I was as proud of them as I would have been had they just won the first playoff series. I was just a bit quieter. Plus, I got to hug their awesome catcher who today was the third basemen, right fielder, shortstop, pitcher and catcher. He's a pretty cool kid. And after a long day like that he still wanted to come back for Fall Ball competitions tonight where he won a first place medal for fastest time from home to first. Yup, C. He took out the "closet wheels" and he can really fly.

He was celebrating just like those Mets. And now I look at him sleeping on the pillow in my room. I wonder if I should wake him so he can share in the Mets' celebration. I decide to let him sleep. It can wait 'til the morning and he was already a winner tonight.

Let's go Mets! Way to get it done in three.

I finally just gave up and bought a subscription to the local paper. Our coach is really good at sending in articles about the team.

Here's this week's with the names changed yadda yadda yadda:

The Central Jersey Lashers split a doubleheader with the Point Riptide this weekend in the USABL Fall Baseball League (9U Division). In game one, the Lashers defeated the Riptide by a score of 10-5. C, DJ and KC combined on the mound for the win with 8 strikeouts while walking only 3 batters. KC went 4 for 4 with 3 rbi; KS went 2 for 2 and NB went 2 for 4 with 2 rbi. The Riptide nipped the Lashers by the score of 9-8 in the second game of the doubleheader. C went 2 for 3 with an rbi and ZC went 2 for 2 with 2 rbi to pace the Lasher offense. AC, NB and KS also had rbi hits.

Tired and grungy but we are back.

Quote from the other coach:
"Base stealing is kind of ridiculous at this age since none of the catchers have enough of an arm to throw out a runner."

Next play - C picks off a runner on second with a bullet from the plate.

Coach: "Well, you guys ruined my gameplan with Pudge Rodriguez behind the plate. I didn't know that kid had such a friggin' arm."

The guys finally won a Fall Ball game. We weren't sure that they would manage that but they played hard on a wet and muddy field and won 20-18. We finished up covered in mud, giggling, and feasting on hot dogs and Big League Chew.

C went 4-4 with a walk and 3 RBIs. He picked off a base runner at second, almost got one at third and pitched an inning.

Now we are back to picking through 10 years of clutter.

But it's raining?

I woke up this morning, listened to the rain, plopping in big drops off the leaves outside my window, rolled over and switched the alarm off secure in the fact that we would have no game. Rain=no game.

ummm....nope.

Checked my email to find a little note saying game is on. See you for batting practice.

Now we are dashing about frantically and I am slapping on a baseball hat in lieu of a shower so that we can make it to the fields in time. Oh, and of course, pausing to blog about it.

In other exciting weekend news...the dumpster is getting filled, the attic and basement are getting empty, the yard sale stuff is piling up in every corner and I am almost ready for my fun Stampin' Up party. I am going to be very crafty. Really. Wanna Holiday card?

Have you seen those Mets??? I can't tell you how much I loved seeing the '86 Mets reunion the other night. Tears--big, fat, rolling tears of joy when they announced that team. That was my team. I was in college (the first time!) and I was so caught up in the excitement of that season. The attitude. The video. The parties!

To see this year's team in the throwback uniforms was great. To see them come from behind and win, to see them sweep the series, to watch the magic number drop all the way to 26--I love these guys.

Let's go Mets!

(I have scheduled the basement remodel** to be finished in time for the series--you know, just in case...)

Multimedia message
Originally uploaded by ya Gotta Believe.

The first game of the tournament our township is hosting and they had all the boys run out as their names were announced and then stand for the National Anthem. You don't see this a lot with the little guys. They usually save the pomp and circumstance for the older teams.

So yeah, I teared up a bit. But c'mon, how cute are they?

No, not the Major League AllStar break. It's the break between tournaments for C.

They lost their last game but came out of their first ever tournament a respectable 2-2. C didn't notice however because he was beaming with pride over his 3rd inning leadoff double. After a couple of strikeouts, walks and a pitch to the head he was ready for that elusive first hit and a double made it much sweeter.

It was a real double as well, not a Little League double. Know what that means? It means the ball actually sailed over the shortstop's head into the outfield instead of being thrown around the infield over everyone's head while the runner skitters to second and all the coaches scream, "Hold the ball! Stop Throwing!"

We have a whole day to ourselves today and are trying to decide what fun and exciting thing to do. Of course, by the time we all decide on something the decision process will have been what we do with out day ;)

C was starting pitcher tonight for the All Star tournament. He was fine. Me? My stomach is still in knots! He did well, pitching 1 2/3 innings and striking out three. Gave up a couple of runs but kept them in there. He made a beautiful defensive play on a ball hit back to the mound throwing out the runner at home to stop a run from scoring.

On base twice--a walk and he took a pitch to the helmet! He went down for a minute but shook it off and took his base.

Then the little man caught the last two innings making two perfect throws to almost get base stealers.

I was proudest of all though when he struck out and just shook it off. C can be very hard on himself and that's very big for him.

Great game tonight. They won 13-7 and may just have wiggled themselves into the playoffs if they play well Saturday.

Whew!

on edit: We just found an article and C has his name in the paper for the first time!

Just got a phone call from C's old coach (who is coaching 9s) to tell me that C would be better playing 8s. No problem, since that was what we had already decided to do.

This whole thing has been emotionally rough. The coach for 9s was great with C. C wouldn't be where he is without him and we love him for that. We are happy with our choice and C is going to have a great time this season but we are going to miss our friends. And that's the problem. They are our friends. And now everything is a bit tense and a bit different.

C deserved to know whether or not he made the team since he tried out like everyone else. I am sure that they would have rather not had to tell us that but I don't think I was being unreasonable. Sparky thinks that maybe they think we deserted them since we went to 8s. Either way things feel tense and off.

I don't know. All I know is all the getting together with buddies after games and practices becomes more difficult. Friends of ours are feeling it as well. And no amount of "we'll keep in touch" fixes things like that. At this age, convenience is everything.

When you are a SAHM (yeah, yeah, student)it's hard to meet/make good friends. C's happy, Sparky is happy and I am happy for them. But I feel like something else is ending and that just makes me feel sad in a way that I can't shake off.

Before I rant, let me just get in a little "Let's go Mets!!" because that is one bit of baseball that is not making me stressed! I love my team in good years and bad, but it is so easy to love them this year!

Little league is a different story altogether.

C is 8yrs old. Last year he played in the 8yr old div. making the cut by about 8 days. This year they changed the dates so he misses the cut by 3 months.

During the season he played 9s. No problem. In fact, he wound up playing up with the 10-11s as a sub for a better part of the year. But now? It's AllStar season around here and it's crazy and stressful. People who had until now had an "it's all for fun" attitude, seem to be trying to hand pick a team to win! win! win! This means trying to recruit older kids (10s) that, because of the new dates, could play 9s a second year.

C is being made to feel like he should be grateful if they allow him a spot. He could easily make this team but they don't seem to want to take him because he is allowed to play with 8s.

We don't necessarily want to see him playing down but I don't want him to feel like it was some kind of gift if they let him play.

His buddies are mainly 9s.

It just sucks. We have been going back and forth with this for weeks and evaluations start today. I think even if 9s say yes--unless it is clear that they want him and aren't just "allowing" him to play--we will put him with the "A" team of 8s. Some of his friends will be there. Not many, but some.

And then??? The topper. C subbed for his buddy's team in the playoffs. Two other 9s also subbed. They had been playing 10-11s this year but were nine years old. His buddy's team--with the subs--tromped the other team.

Last night, almost a week later, and the night before the next playoff game, the other coach called to tell the boys they had to forfeit for using players from 10-11 even though they were nine years old.

Lots of fighting, disappointed kids, and now it seems the other coach is willing to "compromise and settle for a tie for second." Compromise? You came in third!! You were eliminated. Suck it up and take it like a man. What are you teaching these guys? Whine and you win?

And as a result there will be no more playoff games. The other team gets first by default.

What a load of crap.

I don't remember any of this politics bullshit last year. I want C to play and have a good time. I don't want him to feel like the worst kid on the team or a "baby" that they are letting play and I don't want him playing on a team that he can run circles around.

These men need to grow up and let the kids play ball.

Our coach called a practice tonight. Then he said that Sparky and I would be running it and he couldn't show.

Ok, we'll roll with it. It's probably just as well he isn't in charge. So I send out an email to 25 or so kids.

Know how many came out tonight? Two days before what could be their last playoff game?

Just C.

So we bagged practice and he subbed on his buddy's team where he went 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases and a run scored. The team lost 6-4 but he had a good night, got in some practice and the 9yr old AllStar coach was watching.

That plus ice cream and even the scary thunderstorm isn't a problem (for him!).